1. Blood types in the human population are characterized by the presence or absence of antigens
on the surface of the red blood cells.
a. According to Model 1, how many blood types are found in the human population?
b. What shape is used in Model 1 to represent an A antigen? (you can do a screenshot cut and paste,
drawing or description).
c. What distinguishes a type A red blood cell from a type B red blood cell?
d. What distinguishes a type A red blood cell from a type O red blood cell?
2. Refer to the antibodies shown in Model 1.
a. How many different types of antibodies are shown?
b. Draw the antibody that is produced by a person with type A blood. (use the drawing tool) Insert→
drawing→ new. (or screenshot from above in Model 1).
c. Which antigen would these antibodies fit?
3. Model 1 illustrates what happens when red blood cells are in the presence of the two antibodies.
Write a description that explains the complementary relationships between antigens and antibodies.
4. Refer to the second part of Model 1 that illustrates what happens when blood types are mixed.
What happens to red blood cells when they are mixed with complementary antibodies?
5. The term agglutination is used to describe what happens to red blood cells when incompatible
blood types are mixed.
a. Define agglutination according to Model 1.
b.
What adverse effects might agglutinated red blood cells have on the body as they travel through
veins, arteries, and capillaries?
Human Blood Cell Typing 3
6. Refer to Model 1.
a. What antigens are self-antigens for a person with type A blood?
b. What antigens are nonself-antigens for a person with type A blood?
c. What antigens are self-antigens for type AB blood?
7. A person with type A blood typically would not produce anti-A antibodies. Why is this a benefit to the
person?
8. Suppose a person with type A blood needs a blood transfusion after an accident. Blood is received from a
donor. Note that the antibodies in the donor blood are not significant. Only the antibodies in the recipient’s
blood will be considered. Use the diagrams in Model 1 to complete the following illustrations.
a.
Draw the resulting mixture if the donor blood was also type A. (once again use the drawing function,
or find an image online that you can insert and cite).
b. Draw the resulting mixture if the donor blood was type B. (once again use the drawing function, or find
an image online that you can insert and cite).
c. Draw the resulting mixture if the donor blood was type O. (once again use the drawing function, or
find an image online that you can insert and cite).
9. Why would hospitals and blood banks need to be absolutely certain that blood is typed correctly before
being used for transfusions?
10. In emergency situations when the supply of blood runs short or when the need for blood is critical, type O
blood can be given. Use your knowledge of blood typing from Model 1 to explain why persons with type O
blood are called universal donors.
11. Persons with type AB blood, which is rarest, are often referred to as universal recipients. Use your
knowledge from Model 1 to explain why people with type AB blood can receive any blood type.
12. People with type O blood are universal donors but can only receive blood from other type O donors. Use
your knowledge of blood typing from Model 1 to explain why they cannot receive blood of any other types.
Extension Questions
13. People may need a replacement body part for a number of reasons. Currently, the main sources
of “new” organs are other human beings. One of the first steps in determining if an available organ will be a
match is to know the blood types of the donor and the recipient. Predict what would happen to the recipient
and the new organ if this critical step was skipped or done incorrectly. Use the terms antigen and antibody in
your explanation.
14. Another marker, Rh factor, is also used to type blood because it, too, is found on human redblood cells
and causes antigen/antibody reactions. These reactions are separate from the so-called ABO reactions
described in this activity. In the Rh-factor system, the Rh antigen is either present or absent, leading to
designations of Rh-positive (Rh+, antigen present) or Rh-negative (Rh–,antigen absent). Thus, a person can
be O+or O–, A+or A–, and so on. A person with O-negative blood can only receive O-blood. Explain this
limitation.